Whist I think the subject line says it all, here is a photo from last week when I used a poorly designed jig, a big boy sander, some beautifully quartered blackwood from Tim and a lapse of judgement. I was honing in a 15 degree cut for a scarf joint when it went horribly wrong. This photo was taken late last week after I had a few days of healing.

There was a lot blood and a hospital trip. It could have been a lot worse. On the upside, I have been getting a lot of slide practice done (due to an inability to bend my fingers at the moment) - going down to the delta!

I lost a fingernail once to a stationary disk sander when I was in high school, trying to sand a wedge to bung into the top of a mallet, didn't know any better and the damn thing sucked my middle finger right in.

My drum sander scares the crap out of me, too much horsepower and not enough guards, that f**ker would take your arm off if you let it. Perhaps it's better to be scared of our tools, makes us show them the respect they demand.

it actually didn't hurt - i pretty much went straight into shock. I was at my best buddy's (more like a brother) workshop (Epic Guitars) - I am now 'banned' from the big boy for 6 months. Ha ha ha. Apparently economists should not be using heavy machinery.

Daniel_M wrote:Apparently economists should not be using heavy machinery

Calculators & pencils only from now on
It can happen to the most qualified of us, a moments lapse in concentration et viola. I used to work on Ambulances & we attended a guy that had run the chainsaw across the back of his hand, fortunately missed most of the tendons! On the way in to the hospital I was filling out the accident report & asked him what his occupation was, long silence then rather sheepishly he told me he taught people "The correct & safe use of chainsaws" at the local arborist/horticultural school. . Told him to prepare himself for a hard time when he got back to work!

"Jesus Loves You."
Nice to hear in church but not in a Mexican prison.

I just had a guitar making mate at My Place , I was Showing him my new Jet Sander and generally chewing the fat , and he told about a guy sanding his fingers , mmmm, I thought that sound's familiar , Yep It was You Daniel.

I love my little jet sander 10/20 , the best money I ever spent , My mate has the carbatec one , And I'm not so fussed on it , the feed belt is not as god , and I find the Jet a lot easier to adjust so you get even thickness across the width.

Can't remember if it was here I saw it or somewhere else. Someone said that in some carpentry workshop there was a big sign on the door(s) which said "count your fingers" as a reminder to be careful and have the same number going in and coming out.

Dan I sympathise with you as I did something similar when I was doing my apprenticeship many years ago

I had only been at work for two weeks and I was on a linisher and was sanding some table legs with a 60 grit belt when I slipped and touched the belt with my knuckles on my right hand, I remember looking at my hand where skin had been and watching the blood seep out; which was really strange as it took ages for the bleeding to stop! i also remember the strange smell that came from the skin being removed

Close calls do make you a bit more wary using machines and I have a very healthy interest in making sure I use machines in a safe way even if a shortcut saves a few minutes.